Efficient one-dimensional Pt-based nanostructures for methanol oxidation reaction: An overview

The direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have motivated researchers to conduct multifaceted investigations by the virtues of inexpensive raw material and high energy density. Tuning the morphology and composition of Pt-based catalysts with one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures has been proved to be determinant to design high-performance electrocatalysts towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) for DMFCs. Over the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in improving the MOR activity of Pt-based catalysts. Herein, this review briefly presents several typical 1D Pt-based nanostructures, including nanowires, nanorods, nanochains, and nanotubes, for their applications in the MOR process. Some classic instances are listed and detailed to assist readers in better recognizing the superiorities of 1D Pt-based nanostructures. This review firstly focuses on the mechanism of action and evaluation parameters of Pt-based catalysts in MOR, then the strategies employed to synthesize 1D Pt-based nanostructures are briefly summarized. The importance of rationally designing 1D Pt-based catalysts for performance enhancement is emphasized by the MOR application of various 1D nanostructures. Finally, the conclusion and outlook for future research directions in this field were proposed to motivate future challenges.